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Arab/Muslim States

Sharon to Egypt: Back off


By Jerusalem Newswire Editorial Staff
June 24, 2004

Israel is prepared to work together with Egypt to ensure its flight from the Gaza Strip is a “success,” but will not accept dictates or alternative “peace” plans from Cairo, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Wednesday.

"We will not bow to Egypt's dictates and demands,” Ma’ariv quoted Sharon as saying.

Last week Cairo insisted Israel halt military operations against “Palestinian” terrorists based in Gaza following the withdrawal.

On Wednesday, Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman met with Israeli and PA officials to push his government’s own “road map” to peace, which would see the “Palestinian” terror groups protected diplomatically, provided they came to terms with the PA.

The Oslo Accords require the PA to disarm and dismantle recognized terrorist organizations. It is an obligation Israel insists the “Palestinians” honor.

Remaining unilateral

Israel is determined to maintain the unilateral nature of its retreat from Gaza, and as such will not accept Egypt’s efforts to turn the “disengagement” plan into a two-sided affair, Sharon said.

The prime minister met with senior political and defense officials Wednesday to discuss Cairo’s attempt to mediate between Israel and the PA and make demands of the Jewish state.

“Egypt's involvement is of great significance but we will decide how they participate. We will not bow to Egypt's dictates,” Sharon told reporters.

“I don't intend to allow Egypt to become a mediator between Israelis and Palestinians,” he said.

Arab ‘peace’ plan

Over the past month, Egypt has formulated its own “road map” to solving the Israeli-“Palestinian” conflict, and is now trying to integrate Sharon’s planned Gaza retreat into that plan.

According to the plan, Israel would carry out comprehensive withdrawals from Gaza and parts of Samaria, while halting all military operations against Palestinian Arab terrorists.

The PA at the same time would hold talks with the various terror groups resulting in an agreement that would see them become part of the leadership structure.

Sleeping with the enemy

Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has questioned the wisdom of involving Egypt - an enemy that has attempted to annihilate the Jewish state at least three times - in securing the Gaza Strip, an area the Egyptians used for launching two wars against Israel.

"I don't think that any of us can promise that the Gaza Strip...won't be filled with rockets and other weapons that will threaten all the cities of Israel," Ha’aretz quoted Netanyahu as saying.

Relying on Egypt to prevent illegal arming was “very problematic, very questionable,” the finance minister said.

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